BORIS Johnson used his White House-style press briefing room, which cost £2.6 million, to watch the new James Bond film with staff.
It was understood that the Prime Minister attended the screening of No Time To Die at Number 9 Downing Street after-hours on Thursday.
Lobby briefings with Westminster’s political journalists instead took place in a room in Number 10 that day, as well as today.
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A Number 10 spokesman said: “Yesterday the Prime Minister met with Pinewood Studios, Universal Pictures, Eon Productions and the BFI to congratulate them on the success of the latest James Bond instalment – a testament to the talent of British creative industry.
“An evening film screening took place for staff, who made voluntary donations, with all proceeds going to Sarcoma UK.”
All installation costs were said to have been met by the companies involved, and that similar screenings have happened previously.
The PA news agency revealed in March that the refurbishments to the room in Number 9 cost the taxpayer £2.6 million.
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The renovations took place under plans to hold daily televised press conferences to be led by former journalist Allegra Stratton, who was appointed as the Prime Minister’s press secretary.
But in April it emerged the plans had been scrapped and Stratton was moved to become a spokeswoman for the Cop26 climate summit.
Since then, Johnson and his Cabinet ministers have used the room for major press conferences to keep the public informed during the coronavirus pandemic.
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